Peasant Digging

"Peasant Digging" by Jean François Millet French, 1814-1875, created in 1863, is a powerful example of the artist’s dedication to representing the demanding reality of agricultural labor. This print, classified specifically as a woodcut, was meticulously executed on distinctive greenish-gray laid paper, a subtle choice that enhances the somber, grounded atmosphere of the scene. Millet employed the challenging medium of the woodcut to achieve dense blacks and stark contrasts, perfectly suiting the heavy, essential nature of his subject matter and reflecting the immense physicality of manual work.

The composition centers on a lone figure entirely absorbed in the strenuous act of breaking ground, head bent low beneath the weight of the task. Throughout the 1860s, Millet returned repeatedly to images of rural hardship, positioning the common laborer as a monumental subject. This focus was revolutionary in 19th-century France, firmly aligning the artist with the emerging Realist movement, which demanded an unromanticized, truthful depiction of contemporary life. This particular woodcut avoids narrative drama, emphasizing instead the sheer endurance inherent in daily agrarian existence.

The precise line work and careful hatching visible in this print demonstrate Millet’s command of graphic arts and his ability to translate the texture of the soil and the worn clothing of the worker into the print medium. This piece is highly characteristic of the artist’s mature graphic work. The impression currently resides within the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, where it serves as a vital example of mid-19th-century French social realism.